Presenting the crème de la crème of fresh output from the festival’s home region, this year’s Baltic Competition programme consists of 16 works, including 6 world premieres and 2 international premieres.
"The Baltic Film Competition has two missions: to debut the freshest and boldest Baltic films of any genre as first screenings or international premieres. Secondly, to showcase award-winning Baltic films to audiences, celebrating their recent successes abroad," comments Edvinas Pukšta, the main curator of the competition.
The Opening Film of the competition strand is the historical drama Never Alone by the Finnish director Klaus Härö (Fencer, 2015). Partly filmed in Estonia, with costumes by Eugen Tamberg and production design by Jaagup Roomet, the film tells the lesser-known story of Abraham Stiller's struggle to protect Jews from deportation to the Nazis.
The Baltic Film Competition at PÖFF remains the only category allowing regional premieres, though we are increasingly securing World and International premieres," says Pukšta. "Additionally, the rising demand for Baltic films at top festivals encourages us to showcase acclaimed regional hits. We couldn’t pass on films like Flow (multiple awards), Drowning Dry (Best Director and Best Ensemble at Locarno), or Lioness (Best Screenwriter in Warsaw). Likewise, we felt it was fair to allow Southern Chronicles and Tasty their premieres in Cottbus just a week before Tallinn."
Besides fiction films, 5 documentaries will be screened "This indicates that Baltic filmmakers are strong in real fiction, " shares Pukšta his thoughts.
The winner of the best Baltic film will receive a grant of 5000 EUR from Piletilevi.
BALTIC FILM COMPETITION 2024: FILM DETAILS
Anna LOL, 2024, Latvia;
director: Ivars Tontegode. World premiere.
Black Velvet, 2024, Latvia;
director: Liene Linde. Baltic premiere.
Drowning Dry, 2024, Latvia, Lithuania;
director: Laurynas Bareiša. Estonian premiere.
Flow, 2024, Latvia, France, Belgium;
director: Gints Zilbalodis. Estonian premiere.
I Was Born In A Garage, 2024, Estonia;
director: Arko Okk. World premiere.
In The Land That Sings, 2024, Latvia;
director: Māris Martinsons. International premiere.
Life & Love, 2024, Estonia;
director: Helen Takkin.
Lioness, 2024, Estonia, Germany, Latvia;
director: Liina-Triškina Vanhatalo.
My Partners, 2024, Estonia;
director: Eeva Kübar. World premiere.
Never Alone, 2024, Finland, Estonia, Austria, Germany, Sweden;
director: Klaus Härö. World premiere.
Paradise Not Lost, 2024, Lithuania;
director: Linas Mikuta. World premiere.
Rebel with a Bow Tie, 2024, Estonia;
director: Jaan Tootsen. World premiere
Tasty, 2024, Lithuania, Estonia;
director: Eglė Vertelytė. World premiere
The End, 2024, Latvia;
director: Māris Maskalāns. International premiere
Southern Chronicles, 2024, Lithuania, Estonia;
director: Ignas Miškinis. Baltic premiere
Touched by Eternity, 2024, Latvia;
director: Mārčis Lāčis. Baltic premiere
